Granada Hills Truck Accident Attorney

Are you looking for a truck accident lawyer in Granada Hills?

Truck accidents can be some of the most devastating types of motor vehicle accidents because of the heavy weights and large sizes of tractor-trailers. Under the law, truck and trailer combinations are allowed to weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. This means that it is much more difficult for commercial trucks to come to a complete stop and that the forces of the collisions may be more severe. When trucking accidents happen in Granada Hills, our experienced team of attorneys works to help the victims to recover monetary damages. The damages in truck accident cases are often extensive, leading the insurance companies and trucking carriers to vigorously defend against the claims because of the monetary amounts that are involved.

The prevalence of truck accidents in Granada Hills

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that there were 83,000 injury accidents and 3,598 fatality accidents that involved large trucks in 2015. These crashes caused 116,000 people to be injured and 4,067 deaths. In California during the year, the FMCSA reports that 313 people were killed in trucking accidents.

What are the most common causes of truck accidents in Granada Hills?

Truck accidents can be caused by truck driver errors, motorist errors, poor road conditions or defective parts. Some of the common causes of truck collision include the following:

• Aggressive driving
• Following too closely
• Failing to notice that traffic has slowed
• Inattentive driving
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Impaired driving
• Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Changing lanes improperly
• Defective parts
• Poor maintenance
• Improper loading or load securement

In order to determine what caused a truck accident, an experienced lawyer may review the police reports, maintenance records, logbooks and accident reconstruction reports. Determining the causes of the accidents is important for determining liability.

When the truck driver is at fault

In cases in which the truck driver was at fault in causing the accident, the victims will be required to prove the driver’s liability. In many truck accident cases, the victims may also be able to hold the drivers’ employers liable through a legal theory called vicarious liability. Under this theory, the trucking companies may be liable for the negligent acts of their employees when the drivers were working within the normal course of their jobs.

One way that plaintiffs may prove that the drivers were at fault is to prove that their actions violated the law. For example, you might be able to gather evidence that the driver was exceeding the speed limit by getting the help of an accident reconstruction expert. The expert may measure the truck tire skid lengths that are left behind on the pavement to extrapolate the speed of the truck by its braking distance. When you are able to offer proof that the driver violated the law, it is called negligence per se. There are multiple ways to establish liability, and your personal injury attorney may work to uncover the different theories of liability for your case.

When third parties are at fault

Some truck accidents are caused by the negligence of third parties. For example, if a company that was responsible for loading the truck does so incorrectly, the load may shift while the truck is moving and cause the driver to lose control. Other third parties that might be at fault in causing truck accidents might include companies or individuals who maintain and repair the trucks and do so improperly. Those who are responsible for securing the loads may likewise be liable if the load is not secured or is secured improperly, causing it to fall off of the truck. Brokers and shippers that choose the trucking companies with which to contract might hold liability if they choose companies with poor safety records. Our truck accident lawyers will work to determine all of the parties that hold fault in your accident so that the likelihood of you recovering the maximum compensation may be increased.

When should you contact a truck accident attorney in Granada Hills?

In California, there are statutes of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death cases. These are legal time limits within which your claim must be filed. If you file your claim outside of the statutory time period, you will be foreclosed from being able to recover damages for your losses. Personal injury cases must be filed within two years of the date of your injury. In fatal accidents, the cases must be filed within two years of the date of the death.

It is important to contact an attorney soon after your accident instead of waiting until near the end of the statute of limitations. When lawyers are able to start working on a case soon after it happens, they are likelier to be able to locate witnesses and evidence before they are lost with time. Attorneys may help to negotiate claims with the insurance companies, to prove liability in cases in which it is disputed and to properly value the claims so that their clients understand what they are worth.

Contact an experienced truck accident attorney in Granada Hills

Getting help from knowledgeable accident attorneys is important when you have been injured or when your loved one has been killed. Your Granada Hills truck accident attorney can handle your claim for you. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.